Urban Renewal Board approves feasibility study on Plaza Bldg.

Friday

Aug 10, 2012 at 10:30 AMAug 10, 2012 at 12:05 PM

Timothy Stroh, architect, and Charise Boomsma of The Preservation Studio, Inc., of Colorado Springs, on Thursday presented a proposal for a feasibility study on the Plaza (Tabares) Building to the Urban Renewal Board. The proposal was accepted in a five to four vote.

Bette McFarren

Timothy Stroh, architect, and Charise Boomsma of The Preservation Studio, Inc., of Colorado Springs, on Thursday presented a proposal for a feasibility study on the Plaza (Tabares) Building to the Urban Renewal Board. The feasibility study has several components. The building, which has already been assessed, will be assessed again with an eye to persons who would be interested in using it, once it is restored to a usable condition. These persons or businesses must show a committed interest in the building for the restoration to go forward. Sources of funding will be explored which will make the project less costly than the demolition (asbestos is involved, and could be encapsulated rather than removed).Stroh specializes in rehabilitating old buildings and is convinced that the Plaza Building is in better shape than most of the buildings he has redone, plus the resources are there to support the project mostly with grants. He offered impressive references and credentials.Rebecca Goodwin asked the group why not explore alternative efforts to just tearing old buildings down. The feasibility study would at least present other ways to deal with the situation and would be a learning experience worthwhile to the Urban Renewal Board and to the City of La Junta, as many buildings in the downtown area are in a similar situation. This is a good building to start with, since it is owned by the city, originally intended to be a Highway 50 Museum.The aims of the study are to establish project timelines, establish realistic budgets, find tenants and funding sources and to determine if the project is financially sustainable, said Stroh.The cost of the study is $14,000, with half to be furnished by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and half to be put up by the Urban Renewal Board.The board voted along predictable lines, five to four in favor of the feasibility study. Lynn Horner asked for a show of hands, the motion having been made by Goodwin and seconded by Nancy Bennett, with Roger Roath, Lynn Horner and Sandra Leonard being the other yes votes. No votes came from Don Rizzuto, Mack Burtis, Jeff Reeder and Karen Kelley. "This is an important vote," said Goodwin. "We are setting a precedent for a long time. We have no master plan for the city. We need to develop one."The deadline on the use of the state grant has been extended to October. City Manager Rick Klein will request a further extension to Feb. 2013.Klein reported on the demolition of the Kit Carson, in answer to a query from the floor concerning the common wall with the Elks Club. The demolition was accomplished with minimal damage to the Elks Club, a few bricks and broken windows. He was pleased with the work of Bassett Construction. The Elks Club is on the National Historic Registry and is older than the Kit Carson. The wall is structurally sound but will need cosmetic restoration if left exposed.The house at 810 Edison will be taken down before school starts, said Klein.The curb and gutter project is finished, said Assistant City Manager Bill Jackson, and all that remains is finishing the reports. Visitor Lee Merkel, Southeastern Colorado Regional Manager of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, and others from the State Historical Society have been complimentary on the wall at the City Park and the curb and gutter project, said Klein.Joey Johnson reported on the progress of the youth facility project at the old MacKenzie Building. The plumbing is going in and they are getting ready for city inspections. The facility should be open in two or three weeks, said Johnson. Some family emergencies have delayed work recently. The elevator project, which is the next phase for Urban Renewal concern, will take place after the present phase (first floor) is complete.Karen Kelley delivered a report on the Storefront Improvement Program. She presented a simplified application grant for business owners for the consideration of the board and asked for comments during the month in order to make a presentation for the board's approval at next month's meeting.Negotiations continue with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe over the Colorado Department of Transportation grant for bettering rural transportation, formerly known as the Front Door Project. A simple project for paving the parking lots and putting up an awning has become a remarkably complicated negotiation. For further information, see Rick Klein.